Latching means for hopper doors of railway cars



Dec. 9, 1952 G. B. DoREY 2,620,746

LATCHING MEANS FOR HOPPER nooRs oF RAILWAY CARS Filed sept. 17, 1949 4 sheets-sheet 1 G. B. DORE? 2,620,746

LATCHING MEANS FOR HOPPER DooRs oF RAILWAY CARS Dec. 9, 1952 Filed Sept. 1'?, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 `INVENTOR.

Dec. 9, 1952 G. B. DOREY LATCHING MEANS FOR HOPPER DOORS OF RAILWAY CARS Filed sept. 17, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. e5. O/ Mgg@ j Dec. 9, 1952 G. B. DOREY 2,620,746

LATCHING MEANS FOR HOPPER DOORS OF RAILWAY`CARS Filed Sept. 17, l1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m'llllllllllllllllll 1N V EN TOR.

lex/66055765 70mg- Patented Dec. 9, 1952 LATCHING MEANS FOR HOPPER DOORS OF RAILWAY CARS George B. Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 17, 1949, Serial No. 116,375

12 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to the construction of hopper type railway cars and it has particular relation to the construction and arrangement of the latching means which is employed for holding the doors in the closed position.

This invention has to do particularly with that type of hopper door which is hinged along its upper edge and along the upper edge of a discharge opening and is arranged to assume a pendulate open position. Such a door is arranged to be swung to an inclined closed position to meet with a sloping door extending to the lower edge of the hopper opening. In such a structure the swinging edge of the door in the open position lies in close proximity to the rail. It is conventional practice to place a movable conveyor underneath the door for conveying lading from the hopper opening outwardly therebeyond; One of the objects of this invention is to construct a latch mechanism for the door which has no part extending beyond the swinging edge of the door when it is opened.

-Other objects of this invention are: To provide for retracting a portion of -the latch mechanism from beyond the swinging edge of the door where it is positioned in the closed position of the door to hold the same shut; to provide for displacing the latch from its retracted position; to pivotally mount a lifting handle on the door and arrange it to swing so that it projects beyond an edge thereof, thereby providing a, purchase outwardly of the door for closing the same; to operatively interconnect the latch and the lifting handle so that the former is moved by movement of the latter; and to provide different arrangements of interengaging surfaces on the keeper and latch.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention, reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken -together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view inV vlongitudinal section through a portion of a hopper of a, hopper type railway car showing by fulllines the door in the closed position and by broken lines the door in the open position, the Ydoor being providedA with a latch mechanism constructed in accordance.

with this invention; Y

Figure 2 is a top planviewv cf the shouldered keeper which is secured to the underside of the ocr of the hopper and projectsatwise therefrom; i

(Cl. S-308) Figure 3 is a view, in side elevation, of a door and a portion of the hopper, the door being shown in the closed position and'provided with the latch mechanism vof the present invention;

, Figure 4 is a view of the door in front elevation, the door being shown inthe closed position;

Figures 5 and 6 are views, in front elevation, of the door showing the' latch bar and associated parts in different operating positions;

Figure 7 is a-view, inside elevation, of a lifting handle which 'is pivotally mounted on the door;

Figure 8 is a view, in front elevation, of the lifting handle shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a view, in front elevation, of a latching bar which is pivotally mounted on the door;

Figure 10 is a view, in top plan, of the latching bar shown in Figurev 9;'

Figure 11 isv a view,'in side elevation, of a latch strap which is employed in mounting certain of the parts on the door;

Figure 12 is a view, in front elevation, of the latch strap shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a View, in front elevation, of a modified form of latch bar and cooperating keeper;

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view taken along the line Ill- I4 of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the modied form of shouldered keeper which is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

Referring now toY Figures 1 through 6 of the drawings, itwill be observed that the reference character I0 ydesignates a center sill of a hopper type railway car one of the side walls of which is indicated at II. vA hopper indicated generally at I2 is located between'the center sill Ii) and the side wall II. The hopper I2 is formed by side walls I3 and i4, a; top wall I5 and a floor I6 which slopes downwardly to a, discharge opening that is indicated, generally, atv I1 in Figure 1. Surrounding the opening II, defined by the walls I3, I4, I5 and the'floor I6, is a frame that is indicated, generally," at 20. The frame 20 comprises a lower stirrup portion', indicated generally at 2l, which has sides 22 and 23 extending along the edges of the side walls I3 and I4 adjacent the'opening Il and a bottom portion 24 extending along'the lowermost edge of the oor I6 and interconnecting the sidesv22 and 23. It willV be Yobservedvthat the sides 22 and 23 and the bottom. 2ltmaking up the stirrup portion 2| are generally T-shaped in cross section and that they include a wall 25 overlying the sides I3 and i4 and floor I6 and an outstanding flange 25 lying midway of the wall 25. The frame 2i! is completed by an upper beam portion il which extends along the lower edge of the top wall i5. Hinge butts 23 extend downwardly from the upper beam portion 2'1 for carrying hinge pintles 25 that support the hinge straps 3|) which may be secured, as by rivets, to the outer surface of a door that is indicated, generally, at 3|. The door 3| is generally pan shaped and has an outiiared iange 32 overlying the lowermost edges of the hopper l2 around the opening when the door 3| is closed.

With a view to locking the door 3| in the closed position, a shouldered locking element or keeper, indicated generally at 33 in Figure 2, is rigidly mounted flatwise on the underside of the sloping floor I5. Specifically it is mounted, as indicated more clearly in Figure 1, on the outer surface of the wall 25 of the frame 2i). The keeper 33 includes a body portion 34 which extends through a slotted opening 35 in the outstanding flange 26 of the frame 20. The keeper 33 is preferably welded around the sides of the opening 35 as indicated at 36 andl 3T in Figure 1. The body portion 34 extends beyond the floor |5 in the general direction thereof and beyond the same. It is formed' with a shouldered portion which includes a main locking shoulder 33, Figure 2, a secondary shoulder 39 and an intervening inclined wedging section 40'. Leading to the secondary shoulder 33 there is a beveled approach edge 4| which is disposed at an acute angle 42 to the general direction of movement of the door 3| for the purpose of' automatically displacing a latching bar 43, Figures. 9 and 10, which is pivotally carried by the door 3| in a manner to be described.

The latching bar 43 is pivotally mounted on the outer face of the door 3|' at 44' so as to swing in a plane which is substantially parallel with the plane of the door 3|. The pivot 44 is located to one side of and above the keeper 33 when the door 3| is closed.A Extending in opposite directions from the pivot 44 are arms 45 and* 46 which together make up the latching bar 43. TheA arm extends downwardly, as indicated in Figure 4, at an incline from the pivot 44 so as to engage the keeper 33. The arm 45 extends substantially horizontally outwardly toward the outer side of the door 3| and is there formed with an outwardly extending operating head 4T. The arm 45, which constitutes the operating arm of the latching bar 43, isv considerably heavier than the companion arm 45 and', therefore, it functions to bias the latter to the latching position with the keeper 33.

The arm 45, in the normal latching position shown in Figure 4 when in engagement with the keeper 33, projects beyond the swinging or lowermost edge of the door 3|' and appreciably beyond the keeper 33. This provides for latching security by guarding against separation of the keeper 33 from the latching bar 43 due to deflection of the sloping floor l5. or other variations in the parts making up the hopper I2. This improved construction, however, provides for automatie retraction of the projecting end of the arm 45 when the door 3| swings freely to the open position by withdrawing the outer end automatically to a position Within the swinging clearance of the door 3| proper as shown more clearly in Figure 5. This movement. of. the latching bar 43 is accomplished by allowing the weighted arm 45 to gravitate beyond its normal position. as. here locking dog 53V is provided..

4 shown. This causes the latching end of the arm 45 to be moved to a position within the swinging clearance of the door 3| as shown.

With a view to returning the latching bar 43 from its retracted position, as shown in Figure 5, a combined door lifting and latch operating lever or lifting handle 48, Figures 7 and 8, is pivotally mounted on the door 3| at 43. The lifting handle 48 is provided with a handle portion 50 adjacent its swinging end which may be grasped by the hand of the operator. Intermediate the handle portion 5i) and the pivot 49 there is provided a seat 5| on which the operating arm 46 of the latching bar 43 bears when the arm 45 is in the fully retracted position as shown in Figure 5. The lifting handle 4B in its normal position depends in a substantially vertical position with the handle portion 55 contained within the swinging clearance of the door 3|. The lifting handle 48 is swingable upwardly and outwardly to dispose thehandle portion 5i! outwardly of a side edge of the door 3|. Its upward swinging movement is limited by a stop 52 which may be the lower end portion of one of the door hinge straps 3i). By reason of. the engagement of the seat 5| of the lifting handle 48 and the latch arm. 45, the upward swinging movement of the l-ifting handle 48 effects a lifting movement of the latch arm 45 beyond its normal latching position to place the arm 4.5 in position where it can engage at its lower end with the. beveled approach edge 4| of the keeper 33 as. shown more clearly in Figure 6. In order to hold the latching bar 43 in the latched position, shown in Figure 4, a As shown it. is mounted for rocking movement about the pivot 49.

The mounting Yof the latching bar 43 and associated parts is effected preferably through the medium of a latch strap 54, Figures 11 and 12, having integral ferrules 55 and 55 for respectively receiving the latch bar 43 and the lifting handle 43 together with the locking dog 53. Outwardly of the latch strapv 54 are projections 5.1 which constitute fulcrums on which a removable bar (not shown) is adapted to engage in cooperation with the operating head 47- for prying the latching bar 43 to either the. closed or the open posi,- tion. The centers 0f the projections 57| coincide with the centers of the respective ferrules 55 and 55 and rivets extend therethrough as indicated to hold the partsV in position on the door 3|.

Extending along the swinging edge of the door Si a reinforcement 59 is provided which is preferably in the shape of a Z with one flange BIJ, Figure 1, overlying and secured to the door 3| by suitable means, such as rivets. The reinforcement 59 includes a web 6| which extends outwardly and is slotted to accommodate the arm 45 of the latching bar 43 therethrough. The opposite flange 52, which is spaced outwardly from the door 3|., extends. downwardly toward the swinging edge thereof. Extending for an appreciable distance to each side of the arm 45 is an angle shaped member 63 which is disposed with one flange 54 overlying the door and the adjacent flange 65 disposed in parallelism with the web 5| of the Z-shaped reinforcement, 55. The angle member 33 may be welded to the reinforcement 59 as indicated at 56 and 61, thereby providing a box shaped reinforcement. It will be'noted that the lower portion of the latch arm 45 is guided by slots 58 and 63 which are formed in the flanges 5| and 65 respectively.

In operation it will be assumed that the door 3| is in the open pendant position as shown in Fig-` ure 5. The operator grabs the handle portion 50 and swings the lifting handle 48 outwardly and upwardly until it engages the stop 52 as illustrated in Figure 6. During this movement he swings the door 3| to the closed position. It will be observed that the outward swinging movement of the lifting handle 48r picks up the operating end 46 of the latching bar 43 on the seat 5l and thereby so positions the latching end 45 that continued movement of the door 3| in a closing direction operates to further displace the latching bar 43 by reason of engagement with the acute angle beveled approach edge 4| of the keeper 33. The latch portion of arm 45 then engages with the secondary shoulder 33 and retains the door 3l in a position which is not the completely closed position. The operator then releases the lifting handle 48. Thereafter he bears down on the operating end 41 of the latching bar 43 and forces the latch arm 45 from the secondary shoulder 39 to the final or fully latched position in engagement with the shoulder 38.A This final operationmay be conveniently eiected by inserting a removable bar between the underside of the lower projection or fulcrum 5l and the upper side of the operating head 4l. The locking dog 53 then is swung into engagement with the operating arm 48 of the latching bar 43 and the parts then assume the relative positions shown in Figure 4.

For opening the door 3l the foregoing operations are reversed. First, the operator swings the dog 53 to an over-balanced released position as shown in Figure 6. Then a removable bar may be inserted between the upper side of the lower projection or fulcrum 51 and the underside of the operating head 4l. By upward movement of the outer end of the operating bar the latching bar 43 is released from the keeper 33. It is to be observed that the complete opening operation cannot be carried out through the medium of the lifting handle 48. The reason for this is that the stop 52 is so positioned as to limit further movement of the lifting handle 48 the seat 5I of which is still in engagement with the underside of the arm 48. In this position, as shown in Figure 6, the latching end of the arm 45 is in engagement with the secondary shoulder 39. In this-manner the safety of the operator is assured since an attempt to release the latching bar 43 in such an unauthorized manner by movement of the lifting handle 48 merely transfers the latching load on the keeper 33 from the main locking shoulder 38 to the secondary locking shoulder 38. Thus the door 3l will not be opened to endanger the operator.

The takeup movement of the latching .bar 43, as indicated in Figure 6, which is effected by movement of the lifting handle 48 obviates the necessity of providing a long and unwieldy beveled approach on the keeper 43 such as is necessary in certain types of latching keepers previously used. Moreover, the door closing operation is facilitated inasmuch as the retarding influence incidental to the displacement of the latching bar .43 by impingement on the keeper 33 is substantially eliminated.

An alternate manner ofobtaining the desired Wedging effect between the latching bar and keeper is shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings. Here a shouldered keeper is indicated at 80 vwhich corresponds generally to the keeper 33. However, the keeper 80 includes only a single'shoulder 8l. Stepped shoulders are formed vorable downward pull is exerted on the door 3l during the movement of the latching bar 82 to the fully latched position.

Since certain further changes can be made in the. foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended thatV all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted ,as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a iioor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said floor in closed position, in combination, a shouldered keeper carried by said floor and projecting beyond the same with the shouldered portion positioned outwardly 'of said door in its closed position, a latching bar pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said bar having a portion projecting forwardly beyond the swinging edge of said door to engage said shouldered portion of said keeper said projecting portion of said latching bar being arranged to move upwardly towards the hinge axis of said door to a position within the swinging clearance thereof upon disengagement from said locking element, and means for returning said latching bar to latching position including a lifting handle pivotally mounted on said door to swing upwardly and outwardly towards a side edge thereof and to engage said latch bar and move it to released position` 2. In a railway car having a hopper with an 4inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said floor in closed position, in combination, means for latching said door to' said hopper including a shouldered keeper carried by said hopper and a latch bar pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said latch bar being arranged to gravitate to a position in the plane of the shoulder of said keeper, and means independent of said keeper for swinging said latch bar out of the path of said shoulder including a door lifting handle pivotally mounted on said door havingfa seat adapted to engage said latch bar and move the same as aforesaid upon the application of lifting force thereto.

3. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a iioor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet -the lowermost edge of the said floor in closed position, in combination, a shouldered keeper carried by said hopper and a locking bar pivotally mounted onsaid door t0 swing in a plane parallel with the plane thereof,

7 said bar being pivoted intermediate its Yends to present oppo'sitely extending arms, one of said arms constituting a. latching arm extending downwardly from its pivotal axis to engage withy said keeper and the other of said arms extending outwardly from the pvot axis towards a side edge of said door and being of greater weight than the companion arm to bias the latter into engagement with said keeper, and means independent of said latching arm for displacing the same towards latching position including a handle pivotally mounted on said door and lying in a pendant position parallel to the plane thereof and movable upwardly and outwardly to present a lifting handle portion adjacent said side edge of said door, said handle intermediate its ends having a seat adapted to engage said weighted arm of said latch bar and move the same as aforesaid.

4. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined Vdischarge opening anda door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards theV lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the' lowerrnost edge of said floor in closed position, in combination, a shouldered keeper rigidly mounted on said hopper and extending fiatwise beneath said floor and with its shouldered portion projecting therebeyond, said keeper beyond ther shoulder having an inclined yrunway surface leading to theshouldered portion, and a latch pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the pla-ne thereof for engagement with said shoulder of said keeper, said latch having a striker surface adapted to ride on said runway surface for displacement of said' latch by engagement between said surfaces, said latch being adapted to approach said keeper with 'an upward and sideward sweep-ing movement and biased to gravitate towards latching positionto dispose said striker surface beyond said runway surface, and a lever pivoted on said door having `a seat for coopera-ting with saidlatch and holding said striker surfacev in position to engage said runway surface;

5. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper sidel of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including av floor sloping downwardly towards the lower sidel of said opening for directing lading theretoand said' door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said oor in closed position, in combination, a keeper rigidly mounted on said hopper and having stepped shoulders including aY main latching shoulder for holding said door inl fully closedV position and a secondary shoulder for retaining said door in partially closed position, said respective shoulders being connected by an inclinedA wedging surface and there being a projecting inclined runway' leading to said secondary shoulder and lying to one side of said main shoulder, a latch bar pivotally mounted onY said door to swing in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said latch bar being biased to gravitate to latching position and arranged to swing beyond said runway to lie in the plane of said main shoulder, and a lever pivoted on said door having a seat cooperating with said latch bar for holding it in position to coact with said runway upon closing movement of said door.

6. In a railway car having a hopper with anY inclined discharge opening andV a door hinged 8` along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said floor in closed position, in combination, a door lifting handle pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a plane parallel thereto and arranged to normally gravitate to a pendant position and movable upwardly and outwardly towards a side edge of said door to present a lifting handle portion at the side thereof, means for retaining said door in closed position including a shouldered keeper carried by said hopper and a latching bar pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a plane parallel to said door and arranged to interlock with the shouldered part of said keeper, and a pivotally mounted locking dog for engaging said latching bar, said dog and lifting handle being mounted on a common pivot.

7. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said floor in closed position, and cooperating interlocking latching means carried by the door and hopper respectively, in combination, a lifting handle pivotally mounted on said door, said handle being adapted to gravitate to a pendant position parallel to the plane of said door and being swingable upwardly to project the handle beyond a side edge of said door.

8. In a railway car having a' hopper with an inclined discharge opening and ay door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the saine, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said iloor in closed position, and cooperating interlocking latching means carried by the door and hopper respectively, in combination, a lifting handle pivotally mounted on said door, said handie being adapted to gravitate to a pendant position parallel to the plane of said door and being swrngable upwardly to project the handle beyond a side edge of said door, and stop means on said door limiting the upward-sweep of said handle.

9. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side 0f said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a oor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said openlng for directing lading thereto and saidA door being swingable to meet the lowermostedge of said oor in closed position, and cooperating interlocking latching meanscarried by the door and hopper respectively, in combination, a lifting `handle pivotally mounted on said4 door, said handle being adapted to gravitate toV a pendant position parallel` to the plane of saidv door and beingswingable upwardly to project the handle beyond a side edge of said door.

l 1Q. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermostl edge of saidl doorV in closed position, in combination means for latching said'doorv to said'hopper in-I cluding a 'shouldered keeper carriedv by said*A hopper and a latch bar pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said latch bar being arranged to gravitate to a position behind the shoulder of said keeper, and a lever pivoted on said door having a seat cooperating with said latch bar for holding it away from said positionbehind the shoulder of said keeper where it is moved automatically to latohing position in cooperation with said keeper when said door is swung to the closed position.

1l. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said iloor in closed position, in combination, means for latching said door to said hopper including a shouldered keeper carried by said hopper and a latch bar pivotally mounted on said door to swing in a pl-ane substantially parallel thereto, said latch bar being arranged to gravitate to a position behind the shoulder of said keeper, and means independent of said keeper for holding said latch bar away from said position behind said shoulder including a lever pivotally mounted on said door having a seat 4adapted to engage said latch bar and hold it as aforesaid while said door is swung to the closed position.

12. In a railway car having a hopper with an inclined discharge opening and a door hinged along the upper side of said opening for closing l0 the same, said hopper including a floor sloping downwardly towards the lower side of said opening for directing lading thereto and said door being swingable to meet the lowermost edge of said :door in closed position, in combination, a shouldered keeper rigidly mounted on said hopper with its shouldered portion projecting beyond said floor, said keeper beyond the shoulder having an inclined runway surface leading to the shouldered portion, a latch pivotally mounted on said door for engagement with said shoulder of said keeper and having a striker surface adapted to ride on said runway surface for displacement by engagement between said surfaces and biased to gravitate towards latching position to dispose said striker surface beyond said runway surface, and means independent of said keeper for holding said striker surface in position to engage said runway surface including a lever pivotally mounted on said door having a part to engage said latch and hold it as aforesaid while said door is swung to the closed position.

GEORGE B. DOREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,615,792 Campbell Jan. 25, 1927 1,620,097 Hindahl Mar. 8, 1927 1,733,736 Kadel Oct. 29, 1929 1,820,136 Hankins et al Aug. 25, 1931 

